Searching the six satellite images of Mars provided in this investigation, students identify and locate areas that possibly sustained life in the past, might now sustain life, or could in the future. The URL opens to the investigation directory,...(View More) with links to teacher and student materials, lesson extensions, resources, teaching tips, and assessment strategies. Note that this is the last of four investigations found in the Grades 5-8 Module 2 of Mission Geography. The Mission Geography curriculum integrates data and images from NASA missions with the National Geography Standards. Each of the four investigations in Module 2, while related, can be done independently.(View Less)

Multiple activities illustrate the concept of changes in bodies of water over time. Emphasis is placed on the use of remote sensing to monitor changes in water bodies that are due to climate change, erosion, drought, human intervention and natural...(View More) events. Using clay and water, students evaluate the impact of rising water levels on different coastlines and on coastal cities. Students also analyze satellite images showing three examples of changes caused by water: the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, the flooding in the Midwestern region of the United States and the drought effect on Africa's Lake Chad. The URL opens to the investigation directory, with links to teacher and student materials, lesson extensions, resources, teaching tips, and assessment strategies. This is Investigation 4 of four found in the Grades K-4 Module 2 of Mission Geography. The Mission Geography curriculum integrates data and images from NASA missions with the National Geography Standards. Each of the four investigations in Module 2, while related, can be done independently. Please see Investigation 1 of this module for a two-page module overview and list of all standards addressed.(View Less)

The human activity featured in this investigation is the choice of settlement sites. Beginning with an analysis of the location of their own town, students consider the negative and positive aspects of both natural and human made features. Students...(View More) will then interpret maps as well as photographs and true-color/false-color radar images taken from the Space Shuttle to analyze the site location for the city of New Orleans. The URL opens to the investigation directory, with links to teacher and student materials, lesson extensions, resources, teaching tips, and assessment strategies. Note that this is investigation two of four found in the Grades 5-8 Module 2 of Mission Geography. The Mission Geography curriculum integrates data and images from NASA missions with the National Geography Standards. Each of the four investigations in Module 2, while related, can be done independently.(View Less)

The activities contained in this lesson are designed to introduce students to the basic characteristics of satellite images and their scientific importance. Students will discover how images are derived from satellite signals by creating an image...(View More) based on "signals" sent by the teacher, use two overlapping images to generate a single mosaic image, and interpret satellite images of a hurricane, flood and volcano to explore how scientists use them to learn about Earth. The URL opens to the investigation directory, with links to teacher and student materials, lesson extensions, resources, teaching tips, and assessment strategies. Note that this is Investigation 3 of four found in the Grades K-4 Module 1 of Mission Geography. The Mission Geography curriculum integrates data and images from NASA missions with the National Geography Standards. Each of the four investigations in Module 1, while related, can be done independently. Please see Investigation 1 of this module for a two-page module overview and list of all standards addressed.(View Less)

Maps and images are examined, compared and contrasted in this introductory lesson. Beginning with the school building map typically posted in their classroom, students analyze the information it contains, describe its features, and determine its...(View More) purpose. Students then examine maps at different scales to compare and contrast the amount of detail and the purposes. Maps are then compared to NASA satellite images. The use of satellite images to measure and map land usage is explored through images of Las Vegas taken in 1972 and 1992 (note: see Related & Supplemental Resources for link to more current images). The URL opens to the investigation Directory, with links to teacher and student materials, lesson extensions, resources, teaching tips, and assessment strategies. Note that this is investigation two of four found in the Grades K-4 Module 1 of Mission Geography. The Mission Geography curriculum integrates data and images from NASA missions with the National Geography Standards. Each of the four investigations in Module 1, while related, can be done independently.(View Less)

The sustainability of the Nile as a water resource is investigated using maps, photos, data, graphs and a role-playing activity. Student groups will represent each of the 10 countries in the Nile River Basin. Data cards are provided for students to...(View More) gather information on each country, including current and projected population, water status, water management issues and water resource goals. That information is shared, discussed and evaluated at a simulated meeting of the countries. The URL opens to the investigation directory, with links to teacher and student materials, lesson extensions, resources, teaching tips, and assessment strategies. This is Investigation 3 of four found in the Grades 9-12 Module 1 of Mission Geography. The Mission Geography curriculum integrates data and images from NASA missions with the National Geography Standards. Each of the four investigations in Module 1, while related, can be done independently.(View Less)

In the culminating activity of this investigation, students write an editorial entitled, Are We Warming Earth?, in which they attempt to persuade readers to take global warming seriously. Leading up to that activity, students read background...(View More) material and interpret a variety of supporting graphs, diagrams and charts. The supplemental material focuses on global warming- the causes, effects on physical systems, and effects on human systems. The URL opens to the investigation directory, with links to teacher and student materials, lesson extensions, resources, teaching tips, and assessment strategies. This is Investigation 3 of three found in the Grades 9-12 Module 3 of Mission Geography. The Mission Geography curriculum integrates data and images from NASA missions with the National Geography Standards. Each of the three investigations in Module 3, while related, can be done independently.(View Less)

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) affects weather, climate, and, consequently, humans and their activities. In this investigation, students review and analyze ENSO background info, data and satellite images in preparation for a game. Acting as...(View More) policy makers for Peru, students determine the details of an ENSO event based on information from climate specialists, and then allocate money to manage disaster preparedness and minimize impacts on agriculture and fishing. The URL opens to the investigation directory, with links to teacher and student materials, lesson extensions, resources, teaching tips, and assessment strategies. This is Investigation 1 of three found in the Grades 9-12 Module 3 of Mission Geography. The Mission Geography curriculum integrates data and images from NASA missions with the National Geography Standards. Each of the three investigations in Module 3, while related, can be done independently.(View Less)

The use or abuse of the Chesapeake Bay is examined and discussed in the form of a student role-playing activity. Each student gathers relevant background information and formulates questions from briefing cards included in the investigation. Ten...(View More) students assume character roles: each is provided with biographical information, a list of answers to potential questions and a list of points to be made during their testimony. Each character must also prepare a supplemental visual (Landsat image, map, graph, photo, diagram). Following the role-play, the class must make a policy recommendation for improving the Chesapeake Bay. The URL opens to the investigation directory, with links to teacher and student materials, lesson extensions, resources, teaching tips, and assessment strategies. This is Investigation 1 of four found in the Grades 9-12 Module 1 of Mission Geography. The Mission Geography curriculum integrates data and images from NASA missions with the National Geography Standards. Each of the four investigations in Module 1, while related, can be done independently.(View Less)

This investigation introduces students to the phenomena of urban heat islands, areas of higher then normal temperatures associated with populated areas. Using Atlanta, Ga., as the study site, students begin by analyzing the population growth and...(View More) geographic expansion of the area over a 24-year period. Students then use surface images from Landsat, thermal data from aircraft instruments, and land use maps to compare and contrast the distribution of vegetation, variations in daily temperatures, and diversity of land usage types around the city. The URL opens to the investigation directory, with links to teacher and student materials, lesson extensions, resources, teaching tips, and assessment strategies. This is Investigation 3 of four found in the Grades 5-8 Module 3 of Mission Geography. The Mission Geography curriculum integrates data and images from NASA missions with the National Geography Standards. Each of the four investigations in Module 3, while related, can be done independently.(View Less)